Golden Driller facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 36°08′01″N 95°55′52″W / 36.133638°N 95.931158°W |
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| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Type | statue |
| Height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Completion date | 1953 |
The Golden Driller is a huge statue of an oil worker in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It stands 75-foot-tall (23 m) and weighs about 43,500-pound (19,700 kg). This impressive statue is made from a strong steel frame, covered with concrete and plaster. It is the sixth-tallest statue in the United States. You can find it in front of the Tulsa Expo Center, where it has stood since 1966.
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What is the Golden Driller?
The Golden Driller first appeared in 1952. It was built by the Mid-Continent Supply Company from Fort Worth, Texas for a special event. This event was called the International Petroleum Exposition, which is a big show about the oil industry. The statue was only meant to be there for a short time.
How the Statue Became Permanent
Six years later, in 1959, a similar statue was put up again for the same show. People really liked it and it got a lot of attention. Because of this, the company decided to give the statue as a gift. They donated it to the Tulsa County Fairgrounds Trust Authority.
The statue was then changed a bit and made even better. It was permanently placed in front of the Tulsa Expo Center for the 1966 International Petroleum Exposition. The statue's right hand rests on a real oil derrick. This derrick was moved from an old oil field in Seminole, Oklahoma.
The Message on the Statue
At the bottom of the Golden Driller, there is a special message carved into the base. It says: "The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God's abundance a better life for mankind." This message honors the people who work in the oil industry.
A State Monument
In 1979, the Golden Driller became even more important. The Oklahoma Legislature, which is like the state's government, officially made it the state monument. This means it is a recognized symbol of Oklahoma.
A Quirky Destination
In October 2006, the Golden Driller won a fun online contest. It was sponsored by a company called Kimberly-Clark. The statue was named one of the top ten "quirkiest destinations" in the United States. The person who nominated it won a big international vacation!
Fun Facts About the Driller's Size
The Golden Driller is so big that it has some amazing "stats." His belt size is 48 feet around. His shoe size is a massive 393DDD. And his hard hat size is 112! His belt buckle originally said "MID-CONTINENT." But in 1979, it was changed to say "TULSA," which is the city where he stands.
The Golden Driller and Modern Branding
On May 20, 2020, something new happened to the Golden Driller. The city of Tulsa wanted to attract a large factory called Gigafactory 5 by Tesla, Inc.. To help with this, the word "Tulsa" on the statue's belt buckle was changed. It was replaced with the word "Tesla." They also put a picture of Elon Musk's face on the statue. This was the first time that special "wrap advertising" was put on the driller's face.
